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Re: New Headlamp

It seems to satisfy all (I prefer 3 AA in rear), I--were I a designer--would spec out a single AA cell in the head lamp, wired to a removable 2 AA pack in rear with removable middle strap. (This would allow 1.5 volt or 3 cell 4.5 volt. This would allow a feeling of extreme light and balanced feel in the 3 cell mode, or a super light and portable 1 AA mode.) I also would include two posts (with covers) that one could alligator clip a 6v toolbelt battery pack onto. (I don't prefer proprietary attachments, since a 6 volt lead acid battery might work fine for some people.)

This would take a sofisticated controller for to handle a wide range of voltage power.

Personally don't think boost controllers are ever efficient. http://www.prc68.com/I/LED.shtml I throw lights out that don't get 9-12 hours of good light. I prefer a tight beam as human eye can only focus on 3 inch diameter circle anyway. [Details, though, is my profession.] Flood has its place, but is generally too inefficient for a mere battery powered machine.

Last edited by degarb; 01-15-2008 at 05:32 PM.

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

Re: New Headlamp

My suggestions for your super headlamp:

1.5/1.2 AA battery pack has all batteries in 'parallel' to get the most out,
and cut out uneven drain due to differences in internal impedence.
-you'd have the option to use only 1 or more cells depending on need
without changing to a different pack!!!

Suggest a 2AA pack, parallel arrangement. ie 1.5/1.2volt output for long
runtimes with an optional 2AA add-on(sort of a snap on mating thing) to the
back of the head- total of 4AA on the back of the head.

Flood beam must not light up my nose! (very distracting)
Flood beam should light the whole map I'm holding at arms length and not my biceps.- (wastful) Try to talk to someone who's
wearing a Zebra HL and you'll know how annoying that kind of flood is. He can be looking 89degrees away from you and its still blinding

Re: New Headlamp

I like the AA based power source, and that it is expandable for increased burn time.

I'm liking the dual-emmitter setup. No more diffusers/filters to break/breakoff.

Make the batteries easy to change out.

I agree with half-watt regarding the spot beam. Two levels are fine, but make it medium and high/turbo vs. high and turbo. Assuming that runtime is important, medium powered spot is almost always preffered in a wide open setting with dark, light absorbing surroundings. You would need a pretty high powered flood to get good feedback outside of 15 feet.

I like the low-med-high order for the flood.

Make sure both light sources can be adjusted/tilted up and down. Independant adjustment might be nice, but not a necessity.

Consider a shroud positioned above the flood emitter. At least when I'm talking with someone, I can tilt the headlamp downward, and the shroud may help from keeping the glare out of their eyes.

Keeping it lightweight and balanced is important. The lighter it is, the less important the balance becomes.

Re: New Headlamp

Originally Posted by hopkins

My suggestions for your super headlamp:

Suggest a 2AA pack, parallel arrangement. ie 1.5/1.2volt output for long
runtimes with an optional 2AA add-on(sort of a snap on mating thing) to the
back of the head- total of 4AA on the back of the head.

Flood beam must not light up my nose!

This might just work. 4 AA with 2 in back with 10-12 hour run time, with option to run only 2 AA.

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

Re: New Headlamp

Originally Posted by TorchBoy

At what range?

At any range-in a sense. As you get farther from a your writing, you can't really focus at all, instead you need bigger letters to make out what is there. Thus you also need a torch that can throw farther, and even a narrow beam widens as you get further to mimic the range of view. In extreme close up even, you still need eye jumps to read, else one jump per paragraph. How many eye jumps did you use to read each line of the above? This also explains why "Where's Waldo and Mona Lisa " work. Why often we can't find things right infront of our eyes. Detail work you need as much lux as at least equal to daylight. I contend the eye to be tuned to daylight level of lux to be at peak. We live in a tunnel vision world, except to see vague colors, shapes, and movement at the edges. But movement at the periphery can be critical in some lines of endevor, as in police work or riding a bike.

At any rate, this is off topic and I won't defend a narrow beam preference further. And I concede, flood is important for many people. I do think it over valued by some that don't understand how the eye jumps about and focuses as acutely as possible to attempt a grasp on any object whether 1 foot away or 10 foot away.

I haven't attempted yet any activity at night that needs a flood. Instead, I use lamps 10 hours straight for detail work, while being mobile. I just prefer a narrow beam for max lux available--not yet happy with 50 lumen light lux--and use a wrist light that can quickly sweep about for finding things I laid on the ground, adding some peripherial vision.

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

As a matter of fact, yes, I do require headlamps when painting outside within half hour of sundown, else too many skips (all ages of helpers). Yes, headlamps can help outside on a cloudy day. Yes, too much light from too many angles can reduce textural perception, even color washout on a sunny day requires rose colored (best color in tests so far) driving glasses (prefer gradient). Yes, on a four 500 watt halogen setup a good tight 40 lumen lux head lamp adds significant light to a wall, while on a cloudy day-on shadey side of any house- it can offer little contrast to a wall when outside (a demonstration of the huge difference in lux between man's light and the sun, and the need for head lamps even when using best halogen light setup.) Off topic, but all facts and observations that need go into choice for most efficient battery operated lighting (I conclude need for tight beam for current battery capacity and bulb efficiencies, for best detail, as being overwhelmingly best choice for my occupation, and likely, for most people. A second wristlight can be used for quick sweep for looking for things laying about, and offering some more side vision, among other advantages it can offer any painter.)

My only concern is against shallow reflectors and short battery life trends. I only argue since I have thrown out many Dorcy 1 watt lights that can't pull out a textural flaw on a door fram at ten foot away after 1 hour of battery drop. (I also have thown one or two lights into garbage can a each Christmas/birthday that only have 2-4 hours runtime.) This-shallow reflector +short runtime- is a direction I don't wish the industry to go, especially as detail and distant vision is more like our own vision and useful in most real world situations.)

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

Re: New Headlamp

From experience with twin-beam caving lights (2 and 3 levels/beam), I'd say it's certainly good to be able to mix a little spot beam in with a flood - gives the chance of picking out the path ahead while not having a relatively blinding spot which can diminish the usefulness of the flood beam.
A little added spot can also seem to subjectively 'pull out' a flood beam and make it feel like it has better throw even outside the area lit by the spot.

If the controls were completely independent, that does mean the thermal side of things has to cope with more heat than if somehow the high+high combination could be avoided.
I guess one option there would be to have the electronics set to allow a high+high setting, but to dim the beams a little when both are on high at once.
That also has some positive implications for worst-case battery light, and the subjective loss of light compared to a full-power high+high may well be rather small.

For a camping light, being able to have a pure flood is a serious bonus - reading a book in a tent is a dream with a flood.

Re: New Headlamp

For people like you, who need longer runtime, there will be a 4-6AA belt-pack available.

That sounds good. I currently use a PT Yukon HL for sea fishing but am looking for much more light output, ideally 200 lumens+ (twin cree?).

I run my light for up to 12 hours continuosly on medium power, with regular use of max power and do not want to swap batteries if possible. For my requirements I have no use of a low beam.

Running on standard sized nimh cells (AA, C or D) is the preferred option for me, as these batteries are easily obtained and have reasonable capacity. An internal powersource using 2 or 4 AA's would be OK for short (summer) sessions with the possibility of a pluggable external battery pack using multiple C or D cells to provide maximum run-time. D sized Nmih cells are easily obtained with 10000mAh.

Re: New Headlamp

Originally Posted by colina

Running on standard sized nimh cells (AA, C or D) is the preferred option for me, as these batteries are easily obtained and have reasonable capacity. ... D sized Nmih cells are easily obtained with 10000mAh.

I have found AA are easy to obtain. But locally, good rechargeable D or C sizes are impossible to find. ( I only find 2500 milliamphour D cells locally--aye, eye!) If you must order a battery, what do you do in mean time if you use the light every day (like me at work)? But perhaps, there is a store I haven't found.

Not only the availability of C or D's, there is also the question, "are we gaining anything jumping to a D size, since it is still NiMH technology?" I am assuming since the same technology, you have same energy density (size and weight) as the AA's that are easier to get, cheaper, come in hybrid variety, and charge in 15 minutes.

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

Re: New Headlamp

Not sure if you've finished taking suggestions, but I have a couple more.

Primary use: Search and Rescue (intermittent on/off to check maps / navigate, permanent flood use for tricky terrain - spot/throw for use in tight indoor areas, but mainly will be provided by handheld flashlight)

Power source: AA (easiest to get hold of, cheapest to run rechargable). I don't fancy explosive lithium cells fixed to my head.

Switch arrangement:
Switches must be operable whilst wearing gloves. I don't want to dazzle myself or my team, so definitely no instant death-beam.
I know it's very non traditional, but I'd prefer an analogue rotating power switch for each LED, so I can set the brightness to a specific level. This probably compicates the electronics, and certainly makes it more challenging to waterproof. Either way, I wouldn't want it to go into high mode when initially turned on.

Other thoughts:
Make sure the weight balance is sensible for the strap elastic - I don't want it wobbling around when I move, I don't want to have to make it so tight that my brains start coming out of my ears just to support the weight, and I don't want to feel like I'm carrying bricks on my head.

It has to be waterproof (preferably submergable, not just splash/showerproof)

Also make sure there are minimal sticking out parts that can catch on branches. Ensure that any wires to battery packs are clipped / secured to straps where possible, I don't want to end up hanging from a tree.

Re: New Headlamp

Stevoman, you don't like bricks, you don't like explosives on your head, you don't wan't to end up hanging from a tree. Get a grip man, you can't plan on living forever, and, you strike me as a bit of a complainer.

Easily obtainable batteries, glove operation, infinite settings. Next you are going to ask the thing to do your pedalling for you? I bet you put that down too, but just deleted it before the final post. Am I not right?

Personally, I plan to be buried with mine strapped to my head. Lit too, I hope with an extra big battery pack that can go the distance. Nah, no need to "go into the light", especially when it ain't a Cree.

Last edited by degarb; 01-23-2008 at 09:55 AM.

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

Re: New Headlamp

Originally Posted by degarb

Stevoman, you don't like bricks, you don't like explosives on your head, you don't wan't to end up hanging from a tree. Get a grip man, you can't plan on living forever, and, you strike me as a bit of a complainer.

All those things are fine when it's recreational - but repeatedly having to evacuate team members on a stretcher (or possibly in a coffin in the case of exploding headlamps) tends to raise eyebrows, and lower efficiency in a search team

Naturally there are different requirements for different potential uses of a light, and it's impossible to cater for all - there's just a few ideas from a mainly SAR perspective.

I would imagine that non explosive head mounted devices are appreciated by most users, except possibly as a kind of tactical self-defence option, when combined with a thick fireproof helmet, and large visor

Re: New Headlamp

Originally Posted by degarb

Stevoman, you don't like bricks, you don't like explosives on your head, you don't wan't to end up hanging from a tree. Get a grip man, you can't plan on living forever, and, you strike me as a bit of a complainer.

degarb, I don't know whether or not you meant this as good-natured ribbing, but it left me in some doubt. If that is all you meant, I think you should have made it rather more obvious that you were only kidding.

If on the other hand you meant your comments seriously, you need to understand that derisive comments and disrespectful personal attacks of this sort will not be tolerated.

Re: New Headlamp

Originally Posted by stevoman

All

I would imagine that non explosive head mounted devices are appreciated by most users, except possibly as a kind of tactical self-defence option, when combined with a thick fireproof helmet, and large visor

I think you are onto something. No not I'm not talking the terrorist model, while probably a best seller in the Mid East. I think a blinding headlamp with built in taser, is yet an untapped market for those midnight joggers.

A scaled down model may only have an added bug zapper.

Some people are all lumens and no lux, while others are all lux and no lumens. Some just thank God they have neither.-- All of my lights have throw--some pretty darn far, into the garbage.

Re: New Headlamp

Of course I was kidding. I actually thought how Stevoman was wording his observations quite clever and funny, thus I had to drive home the humor of his wording. Naturally, I don't expect everyone to get when we might be kidding, while making some serious suggestions [which I strongly agree with most of his points}. I did try to make a tongue and cheek ending as obvious as possible without the "smilies" that I think tend to actually "dehumorize".

On a side note, one thing I do is mod all my 3 AAA to 4 AA holder plus variable resistor. I tend to prefer the reliability of the 4 AA, but rear 3 AA can be as comfortable as 3 AAA in head--so I'm torn. I can put a dummy aluminum battery in a 4 AA pack if desired to lighten, though. I could even put a LIon and three dummies if desired. The manufacturer that includes a controller to handle 3 -6 volts and offers light dummies or a modular pack, would have the best product. A jogger would prefer a single cell, a biker--likely 3 AA, while a walking/standing worker/sportsman might prefer 4 AA for duration.

Re: New Headlamp

My requirements for a good headlamp:
-Runs off AA's.
-Robust mount that can withstand being sat on.
-Smooth hinge adjustment rather than having notches.
-Low & high mode only, high for walking outdoors and low for up-close activity (to prevent batteries draining too quickly).
-5mm LEDS fine as long as they're efficient (at least 70lm/w), or power LED with a large hotspot (no smaller than the hotspot of an Ultrafire WF-606A).

Re: New Headlamp

Closed but people still read it...

I like the idea of a throw and a flood beam, both adjustable in output. As long as they are easy to adjust. Also it would be nice if they were both adjustable in direction separately. For example I may want flood pointed down for path lighting, and spot for trail finding ahead.

But don't forget the annoyance factor when talking with others. So you may want one quick kill or pause switch or button. Just something that you can do before you turn to face someone without blinding them with flood or spot.

Also I think another light that has a low of around 2.5 lumens is a good low, and then the medium is five times that and high is about five times that. Those levels make for very useful levels. Just test the levels by reading in the dark, walking in the house in the dark, walking a well maintained trail and a trail that is barely there, biking, jogging/running, working on the car and others, hanging on a tree as a camp area light, bounce light off ceiling, spelunking, etc.

Note to self, turn off flashlight when a plane is over head. Don't want them trying to land.